Josie Totah Nabs Lead Role in 'Saved by the Bell' Revival

Saved by the Bell is coming back with a new class, and while it’s easy to be skeptical and kind of wish Hollywood would start leaving our favorite childhood shows alone, we do have at least one bit of promising casting news.

The lead role has been cast, and it’s going to Josie Totah, the trans teen best known for her roles in Champions, Glee, and the Disney show Jessie.

Totah came out publicly as trans in 2018, sharing that she previously “wasn’t ready to be more specific,” when identifying as LGBTQ.

“But I realized over the past few years that hiding my true self is not healthy,” she said. “I know now, more than ever, that I’m finally ready to take this step toward becoming myself. I’m ready to be free.”

Since sharing that she now goes by the name Josie, the young actress has had a four episode arc in No Good Nick, and filmed a pilot for Amazon called Good People.

Saved by the Bell will see Totah play Lexi, “who is described as a beautiful, sharp-tongued cheerleader and the most popular girl at Bayside High, who is both admired and feared by her fellow students,” according to Variety. It’s unknown at this point if Lexi also identifies as trans.

The revived series will also bring back the lead character of the original series, Zack Morris, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

When California governor Zack Morris gets into hot water for closing too many low-income high schools, he proposes they send the affected students to the highest performing schools in the state – including Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the over privileged Bayside kids a much needed and hilarious dose of reality.

Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez will also be returning as Jessie Spano and A.C. Slater.